Fire-alarm box



No. 621,093. Patented Mar. l4, I899. J. W. JOHNSON.

FIRE ALARM 80X.

(Application filed Dec. 7, 1896.) (No Mode'.) 2 Sheets-5haet l.

No. 621,093. Pat ented Mar. I4, I899. J. w. JOHNSON.

FIRE ALARM B UX.

(Application filed Dec. 7, 1896.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

v J 0 O 15) 7 venzm",

In C 5 a specification.

My invention relates to signaling appara- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES W. JOHNSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FIRE-ALARM Box.

SPECIFIGATIO'N forming part of Letters Patent No. 621,093, dated March 14, 1899.

Application filed December '7, 1896. Serial No. 614,725. (No model.)

To all whom, it iii/(by concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES W. JOHNSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain Improvements in Fire-Alarm Boxes, of which the following is tus and maybe applied to such,for example, as that shown and described in the patent to J. J. Ruddick, No. 553,873, dated February 4, 1896.

The object of my invention is to provide a device for controlling such apparatus under abnormal conditions.

I have illustrated my invention in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figurelisaview ofanon-interfering signaling apparatus before my invention has been added. Fig.2isaviewofanon-interferingsig naling apparatus provided with myinvention and with parts omitted. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, the position of the parts being varied. Fig. 4 is an end view of the non-interfering magnets, showing the armature for controlling my device. Fig. 5 is a view of a modified form of my invention. Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 with the parts differently disposed.

Like letters refer to like parts throughout the several figures.

Fig. 1 shows a successive non-interfering signaling apparatus somewhat similar to that described in the Ruddick patent above referred to, and to which patent reference may be had for a detail description, as such apparatus is no part of myinvention. I will describe this device briefly in order that my invention may be readily understood. This apparatus, as shown in Fig. 1, consists of an actuating-train of gears actuated by the spring A. This spring is connected with the gear A, provided with the annular projecting flange A said flange being cut away so as to form the openings A The locking-lever B is pivotally connected to the frame carrying the actuating-train and is provided with the projection B, which fits into the opening A? when the mechanism is at rest, but which bears upon the outer surface of the flange A when the mechanism is in operation. The starting-lever B is pivoted to the frame and core of the magnet.

is adapted to move the locking-lever so that the pin B is removed from the. opening A A non-interfering magnet O is mounted upon the frame. A controlling-lever O is pivoted at O to the frame and is provided with the armature Ciopposed to the core of the magnet C. When the arm orlever O is retracted by the spring 0 the armature O is moved far enough away from the magnet so as not to be attracted when the magnet is energized. This controlling-lever O is provided near its lower end with a pin Of, the extreme lower end C of said lever beingbent outwardly, as indicated, so that when in a predetermined position it will be engaged by the pins 0 on the gear 0 the engagement between said end 0 and said pin causing the controlling-lever to be moved so that the armature is in proximity with the This controlling-lever G is provided near its middle with a pin 0". The locking-lever B is provided at its end with the offset or projection B which engages the pin 0 when the controlling-lever is in the position shown in Fig. I and the projection B is opposite one of the openings A thereby preventing said projection 13 from entering said opening. The end of the lever Bis provided with a beveled surface 13, which engages the pin 0 as the lever B moves downwardly, thereby moving the controlling-lever O to a position where the end 0 will be engaged by the pin 0 Two contacts D D are located in the main circuit and are normally held together by means of the circuit-controlling lever D This lever D is provided with a projection D which engages the lower spring-contact D, said lever being provided with the arm D which engages the pin 0 This circuit-controlling lever is opposed to the number or signaling wheel E, which is connected through the actuating-train with Y t canoes position that the contacts D and D are together.

If when the signaling apparatus shown in Fig. 1 is operated the non-interfering magnet fails to hold the armature 0 during its free periodsz. e., when not held mechanically against the force of spring C -the mechanism will continue running without transmitting a signal until the spring A runs down, because the point B engages the pin 0". This occurs when the circuit remains open or the current strength remains too weak to energize the magnet sufficiently. In Fig. 2 I have shown one form of my device which when added to the mechanism shown in Fig. 1 will prevent the mechanism from running down under such conditions and which will not affect its operation when the ciro uit is in proper condition. In order to produce this result, I have added to the device shown in Fig. 1 the arm G, pivoted to the frame at G and provided with the projection G which engages the pin G so as to limit the motion of said arm. Thisarm is connected to an armature G associated with the magnet C. Said armature is pivoted to the frame at G (See Fig. 4.) A lever G" is pivoted to the arm G at G and is provided with a projecting end G3, to which is connected aspring G". A pin H is connected with the locking-lever B, the

lever G projecting downwardly between said.

pin and the pin (3".

In Figs. 5 and 6 I have shown another construction of my device. In these figures the controlling-lever C is divided, the lower end being pivoted to the frame at 0 while the armature C is carried by a separate arm I, pivoted at I. Connected to the upper end of thecontrolling-lever O is a latch or dog 1 which is adapted to engage the end of the lever I. Pivotally connected with the lockinglever B is an arm J, provided with an upwardly-projecting end adapted to engage the lever I. This arm J is provided at its lower end with the branches J J The branch J is provided with the projection J adapted to be engaged by the pin 0 on the controllinglever O. The branch J is shaped so that its end will engage the pin C when the lever 0 changes its position from that shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5 to that shown by full lines, and the parts are so arranged that in changing position the pin will move the arm J to the right out of its path and then engage the projection J at the same time causing the upper end of the arm J to move to the left.

I have described two difierent forms of my device; but it is evident that other constructions than those herein shown may be used to perform the same result. The constructions herein shown are suflicient to explain my invention, and I do not consider it necessary to show all the forms'by which the same result may be obtained. I therefore do not wish to be limited in any particular by the form, construction, and arrangement of the parts as herein shown and described, nor to the application of it to any such device as shown herein.

The use and operation of my invention are as follows: Fig. 1 shows a successive non-i11- terfering signaling device without my invention. A series of these signaling devices is connected to one circuit, and the mechanism is so constructed that the several instruments will not interfere with each other even if operated at the same time, the several devices giving their signals under these conditions one after the other. Then it is desired to send in a signal, the signaling-lever B is moved so as to move the locking-lever B to ward the magnet 0, thereby moving the projection 13' out of the opening A and releasing the actuating-train. If the normal current flows through magnet C, the armature G which is in proximity to said magnet, will be held in position as indicated in dotted line. The signal-wheel E now rotates, and the circuit-controlling arm D being disengaged from pin A is moved up and down by means of the teeth of said wheel, thereby making and breaking said circuit, so as to transmit the signal to the central station. When the circuit is completed, the armature O is held against the force of spring 0' by the magnet O, and when the circuit is broken by the operation of this number-wheel the end of arm D of the lever D engages the pin (3, and thus prevents the armature and lever C from assuming the position shown by full lines in Fig. 1. The projection B now rests upon the outer surface of flange A Vhen, however, one of the openings A comes opposite said projection, the projection will enter the opening and the lever B will return to its normal position, thereby locking the mechanism from further movement. If when this instrument is started some other instrument is in operation, the circuit will be interrupted by such other instrument before the controlling-arm D drops off the first tooth of the signaling-wheel, as the period of time necessary to bring the arm down upon the first tooth after the mechanism is started exceeds the longest closure of the circuit made by any of the instruments when in operation. Under these conditions the magnet G will fail to hold the armature G and the controllin -arn1 O will be retracted by the spring 0 to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1. hen in this position, the pin C engages the arm D of the circuit-controlling lever and prevents it from falling into the notches on the signalwheel E and breaking the circuit at D and D. The parts will then be in position shown in full lines,Fig. 1. The actuating-train contin ues to operate until one of the openings A comes beneath the projection 13'. Said projection then enters the opening and the lever B is lowered, the beveled surface B engaging the pin 0 and moving the lower end of lever O outwardly. The downward move ment of lever B is stopped by the engagement of projection l3 and pin C The projection B is thus held from entering opening A far enough to stop the train and the mechanism continuing to operate raises lever 13. Meanwhile the pin 0 on wheel 0 engages the end C of lever C and moves the armature G into proximity to the poles of the magnet, where it will be held, if said magnet is properly energized. If there is still another instrument transmit-ting a signal, it will not be held, and the lever Q will be again released and the operation above described will be repeated. If, however, there is no other instrument in operation and the circuit remains closed, the lever C will be held in its dottedline position and the circuit-controlling arm D will be free to drop into the notches on the number-wheel and tranmit the signal. If the circuit is open when the instrument is operated and remains open, or if the magnet Ois not sufficiently energized to hold the armature, either of which would be an abnormal condition, and it is evident of course that there might be other abnormal conditions, the mechanism will continue to operate until the spring A has run down. WVhen my invention is attached, as shown in Fig. 2, it in no manner interferes with the operation of the mechanism when the circuit is in its normal condition. If the circuit is open,the arm G projects between the pin 0 and H, and hence when the opening A comes opposite the projection B the movement of lever B causes the arm G6 to move the controllinglever C, so that the projection B instead of engaging the pin 0, is allowed to pass by said pin, thus allowing said lever B to move to its locking position. If before the actuatingtrain has moved one of the openings A opposite the projection B the circuit is completed, the armature G will be attracted and will move the arm Gr upwardly, so that instead of engaging the pin 0 its end rests upon said pin. When said arm is in this position, it does not engage the pin 0 when the lever B moves downwardly, and hence the pin C engages the projection B so as to prevent the lever B from movingiinto its locking position, and the train continues to operate. It will therefore be seen that if the current remains insufficient from the time the mechanism is started until the projection 13 is brought opposite one of the openings A (an abnormal condition) it will be stopped; but if at any time during this period the current is restored the instrument will continue to operate the same as it would without my device.

The operation of the device, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, is as follows: If there is another instrument in operation when the signaling-lever is moved, the controlling-arm C will take the position shown in full lines, Fig. 5. The pin C is shown as engaging the projection J and the upper end of the lever J in a position where it will be engaged by the lever I when the magnet O is energized. If

the circuit is open, said magnet, of course,

will not be energized, and when the projection B comes opposite an opening A the lever 13 will move downwardly. The arm J now swings about its pivot and moves lever O outwardly, so that the end of lever B will pass the pin 0 and allow said lever to take its lockin g position. If, however,there should be a closure of the circuit, the arm I will engage the upper end of the arm J and move it to the, position shown in Fig. 6, the pin 0 being then released from the projection J In moving the arm J the magnet attracts the armature against the force of the spring 0 so that the pin C passes projection J by slightly moving lever C. If now the lever B moves downwardly, its beveled surface engages the pin 0 thereby moving the lever O to a position where it will be engaged by the pin 0 The end B of lever B also engages said pin, so as to prevent said lever from moving to its locking position. The pin 0 on the wheel 0 then engages the end of the lever O and, moves its upper end, carrying the latch I toward the magnet. The engagement of this lever with the arm I moves the armature C in proximity to the magnet, where it will be held, if the magnet is properly energized. The latch 1 when engaged by the arm I moves about its pivot and per mits the two parts to be locked together, so that after being released by the pin 0 the part I, if the armature is attracted, will hold the lever O in position. It will thus be seen that the latch 1 is a means of detachably-attaching the lever O and the arm I together,the movement of said latch allowing the proper connection to be made. The mechanism will therefore continue to operate and if the circuit is in the proper condition the signal will be transmitted.

In Figs. 5 and 6 I have shown the controlling-lever as divided. In other words, I have shown what may be called a two-part controlling-lever,-the upper part carrying the armature.

It is possible to stop one or more boxes in operation by simply holding the circuit open .a predetermined time at any point.

The device will operate on any signaling period during which the magnet lacks sufficient energy to retain the armature.

I have spoken of the signal-wheel, but of course I do not wish to be limited by the use of that term in'my description and claims to that particular construction but to the equivalent thereof, as other numbered devices, so to speak, could be used to control the circuit making and breaking device quite as well as a signaling-wheel. I have also spoken in the claims of arresting the action of the signaling device, meaningby those words to include the idea not only of stopping the action but also and preferably of arresting or suspending it, so that it is free to begin operations again when the action of arresting it ceases.

My apparatus is not necessarily confined to a use in connection with non-interference ICC IIO.

boxes or succession-boxes, though doubtless it is particularly applicable to such and is shown in relation to such in the drawings and description. There might be systems in which the boxes would be controlled in a sense from the central station. For example, it might be desirable to set the boxes so as not to give a signal at the central station when the central station was out of connection, perhaps having been switched out on account of the absence of the person in charge. In such case, as well as in other cases above referred to, the motor mechanism should, however, be stopped.

I have described my invention as operating on an open circuit; but it is of course evident that it may operate on circuits which have been weakened or decreased below a predetermined strength or otherwise made abnormal.

I claim 1. In a signaling apparatus, the combina tion of a starting device, motor mechanism responsive to the starting device, asignaling device adapted to be operatively connected with said motor mechanism, a signal-arresting device, a motor-stopping device independent of the length of time the motoris in operation and normally held in an inoperative position, but adapted to be rendered operative in response to abnormal conditions.

2. In a signaling apparatus, the combination of a starting device, motor mechanism responsive to the starting device, a signaling device adapted to be operatively connected with a motor mechanism, a non-interference device, a signal-arresting device, an electrically-controlled motor-stopping device normally inoperative after the motor has been started and before the mechanism has begun to send in its signal, but responsive to abnormal conditions.

3. In a signaling apparatus, the combination of a starting device, motormechanism responsive to the starting device, a signaling device adapted to be operatively connected with the motor mecl1anism,a non-interference magnet, an armature associated therewith, a connection between said armature and the motor mechanism whereby the armature is mechannormal conditions, but adapted to be ren- 1 dered operative by abnormal conditions of the circuit.

4. In a signaling apparatus, the combination of a starting device, motor mechanism responsive to the starting device, a signaling de- Vice comprising two parts, one a circuit making and breaking device, the other a signaling-wheel to control the circuit making and breaking device, a signal-arresting mechanism to control the circuit making and breaking device independent of the signaling-wheel, an electrically-controlled motor and signalwheel stopping device held in an inoperative position while the motor is in operation under normal conditions of current and adapted to be moved to an operative position in response to abnormal conditions.

5. In a signaling apparatus, the combination of a starting device, motor mechanism responsive to the starting device, a signaling device comprising two parts, one a circuit making and breaking device, the other a signaling wheel to control the circuit making and breaking device, a non-interference mechan ism to control the circuit making and breaking device independent of the signaling-wheel and without stopping the motor mechanism, and a motor and signaling=wheel stopping device inoperative at all times when the motor is operating under normal conditions, and in= dependent of the length of time said motor is in operation, but adapted to be brought into action to stop said motor by the presence of abnormal conditions.

6. In a signaling apparatus, the combination of a starting device, motor mechanism responsive to the starting device, a signaling device adapted to be operatively connected with a motor mechanism, a non-interference device comprising a magnet, a signal-arresting device, and an electrically-controlled motorstopping device held inoperative under normal electrical conditions at all times during the operation of the motor, but responsive to abnormal conditions andcomprising in part the magnet of the non-interference device.

7. In a signaling apparatus, the combination of a starting device, motor mechanism responsive to the starting device, a signaling device comprising two parts, one a circuit making and breaking device, the other a signaling-wheel to control the circuit making and breaking device, a non-interference mechanism containing a magnet, a signal-arresting mechanism to control the circuit making and breaking device independent of the signalingwheel and without stopping the mechanism, and a motor and signaling-Wheel stopping device inoperative at all times while the motor is in operation and during the normal condition of the signaling-circuit, said stopping device constructed so as to be responsive to abnormal conditions and containing the magnet of the non-interference mechanism.

8. A signaling apparatus comprising an actuating-train, a. non-interference magnet, a

non-interference signaling apparatus operated thereby, and an electrically-controlled stopping device associated with said apparatus normally inoperative during the operation of the motor while the conditions of the circuit are normal, but adapted to be brought into operation under abnormal conditions and stop said apparatus before the train runs down.

9. A signaling apparatus comprising an actuating-train, a non-interference magnet, a non-interfering signaling apparatus operated thereby, a device associated with said apparatus and adapted to stop it at a predetermined time when the apparatus is operated under abnormal conditions, a connection between said device and said non-interference magnet, said connection being such that if said magnet is energized during any part of a signal-making period of the signaling apparatus, said device is moved to an inoperative position during said entire signal-making period.

10. A signaling apparatus comprising an actuating-train, a locking-lever therefor, a circuit-controllin g mechanism, a non-interference magnet, a controlling-lever, an armature for said magnet connected with said controlling-lever, a stopping mechanism associated with said controlling and locking levers and adapted when the apparatus is operated under abnormal conditions to connect said controlling and locking levers so that said controlling-lever will be moved to a position where it will not be engaged by said lockinglever, and a connection between said stopping mechanism and said magnet whereby said stopping mechanism is rendered inoperative when said magnet is energized.

11. A signaling apparatus comprising an actuating-train, alocking lever, a circuit-controlling mechanism, a non-interference magnet, a two-part controlling-lever having outer locking ends, one part of said lever provided with an armature adapted to be acted upon by said magnet, astopping mechanism associated with said controlling and locking levers and adapted, when the apparatus is operated under abnormal conditions, to connect said locking-lever and controlling-lever so that said controlling-lever will be moved by the movement of said locking-lever, to a position where it will not be engaged by said locking-lever, and a connection between said stopping mechanism and said magnet whereby said stopping mechanism is rendered inoperative when said magnet is sufliciently energized.

12. A signaling apparatus comprising a magnet, a starting device, motor mechanism responsive to the starting device, a signaling device adapted to be operatively connected with the motor mechanism, a motor-stopping device responsive to abnormal conditions, and a connection between said motor-stopping device and said magnet whereby a momentary excitation of said magnet during any part of a signal-making period of the signaling apparatus causes said motor-stopping device to be moved to an inoperative position during such period.

13. Asignaling apparatus comprisingasuccessive non-interfering mechanism provided with a locking-lever, a controlling-lever and a non-interference magnet; an arm pivotally connected with said locking-lever and adapted to engage said controlling-lever when the apparatus is operated under abnormal .conditions, an armature associated with said magnet and connected with said arm in such a manner that the arm is disengaged from said controlling-lever whensaid magnet is sufficiently energized. g

14. Asignalingapparatus comprisingasuccessive non-interfering mechanism provided with a locking-lever, a non-interference magnet and a two-part controlling-lever, the two parts of which are provided with-interlockin g ends, an armature connected with one part of said lever and associated with said magnet; an arm pivotally connected with said locking-lever, and having aprojection which is associated with the armature end of said controlling-lever, said arm provided with two branches one of which is adapted to engage a projection on said controlling-lever, when the locking-lever is raised and the circuit is broken, and cause it to engage the other branch of said arm, and a projection on said latter branch which engages the projection on the controlling-lever and holds the parts in position.

15. In a signaling apparatus, the combination of a starting device, motor mechanism responsive to the starting device, a signaling device adapted to be operatively connected with a motor mechanism, a signal-arresting device, motor-stopping mechanism adapted to stop the motor after the proper signal has been transmitted, an engaging device adapted to engage said motor-stoppin g mechanism, and prevent it from acting to stop the motor until the proper, signal has been transmitted, and a controlling device associated with said engaging device and adapted to render it inoperative under abnormal conditions of the Witnesses:

DONALD M. CARTER, BERTHA C. SIMs. 

